Airfreight volumes at Munich Airport continue to post increases with a total of nearly 125,000 tonnes of flown airfreight in the first half of 2008 representing a gain of approximately 4 per cent over the previous year. Four-fifths of all airfreight at Munich Airport was carried as co-loaded (belly) freight on passenger flights, and 80 per cent of that amount was carried on long-haul routes. The highest absolute gains were posted on flights to and from Korea,the US, Thailand, South Africa, China and Japan.
Passenger figures were also up, with a total of 17 million passengers passing through Munich’s gates, up 6 per cent from the previous year. With this growth rate, Munich is once again oneof the strongest growth engines among Europe’s 10 busiest airports in terms of passenger volume. Among Europe’s top 10 airports, only Rome reported a faster growth rate.
Munich Airport CEO Dr Michael Kerkloh stressed Munich Airport’s role as a “dynamically expanding asset of the German and European aviation industry,” adding that despite the current difficult operating conditions, he doesnot see any threat to this position:”However we also realise that, in view of the current economic turm oil in theair transportation market and the rising crude oil prices, we may see a temporary slow down in growth during the coming months. This will have no effect onthe excellent long-term development prospects of our airport.”